Paris travel guide for first timers
Planning a trip to Paris? Below are all the basics a first time traveller to Paris needs to know!
Welcome to my travel guide to everything you need to know about Paris! This Paris Travel Guide will introduce you to all the essentials a first time Paris traveller will need for their trip including Paris transport, money, safety, where to stay and what to eat, and more!
Paris is my Number One favourite destination EVER, so I have LOTS more posts coming about this amazing city that go into greater detail around each of the topics below, as well as Paris itineraries, Paris neighbourhood guides, local and off the beaten track Paris, and my favourite museums and activities. But to cover the Paris essential information you will need, read on below…
How to get to Paris
Most likely you will fly into Paris from its primary airport - Charles De Gaulle. If so, I would highly suggest the train into the city as it’s well priced at around 12 euros and fairly convenient. You can buy a ticket from the machines in English and there are staff members to help. If there’s two or more of you though, you could split an Uber (I’m from Australia and find it easy to use my existing account overseas) or a taxi. This should be 50-60 euro and - bonus - they will take you to your door.
The other option is that you may be on a Euro-trip and arriving at one of the major train stations in Paris itself. Unlike some cities, Paris has more than one major train station so make sure you know which one it is and see how far it is from your accommodation. If your train line connects from there, you might want to do that, but if not, an Uber or taxi might be easier - especially if you’ve got luggage (trains in Paris often = stairs).
When to visit Paris
Spring or autumn are my preferred times to go to Paris. Summer is too hot and full of tourists. Winter can be lovely but I feel there are other destinations in Europe that are better in winter and give off that cold, christmas-y vibe. In spring and autumn, the sun is still shining, the temperature is moderate and locals are out-and0about giving Paris a bustling atmosphere. The best weather I ever had in Paris was September 2022. But, hey the weather can be unpredictable (climate change anyone!) so just go when you can.
In terms of how long to go for, Paris is great for all lengths of vacations. It will be a lot but you can cover the basics in 3 days if you had to, but you could equally spend weeks and not get bored. Personally, I would allow at least a week, or 5 days if you’re trying to fit in lots of other cities too.
Where to stay and go in Paris?
The main part of Paris can be delineated by a ring road that encircles it - look on a map and you will see what I mean. Within the ring road are most major sites and tourist areas. This area can be further broken down into 20 “arrondissements” or suburbs which spiral out from the centre. I personally have found places I like in all 20 arrondissements but I would say the main arrondissements are 1 through 8 + the 18th which is Montmartre. So staying in one of these would be convenient, especially for a first timer - but also more expensive on the whole.
I personally would be happy to stay in any arrondissement if it’s near a convenient metro line, but I will admit some parts of some of the more outer suburbs may be considered dicey by some. One area I do recommend though is the 10th and 11th nearby the canal. This is real Paris, but still close to the main areas and bustling with lots of restaurants. The 17th is also nice quiet option too if that’s more your speed.
Where to eat in Paris?
So I have a full Paris Food Guide coming soon including some controversial reviews that may go against most travel influencer “must go” places. But for now, I wanted to talk more generally about food in Paris.
You should absolutely experience a typical Parisian cafe. Note it often costs more to sit out the front but it’s worth it! You should also eat traditional food in Paris like steak frites at a bistro. BUT Paris is also a big, diverse city, so don’t limit yourself, especially if you have more time. There’s lots of North African food for example and near the Louvre is an area filled with great Japanese restaurants in Paris.
Paris is famous for bread, cake and picnics. There are some good Paris bakeries and patisseries that have become insta-famous and since hiked up prices their results. Yet, baked good quality overall in Paris is quite good, so just see where locals line up in the morning (you can also look on windows for signs showing if they’ve won the coveted award for best Paris baguette). Paris also has lots of markets and food halls where you can get everything all in one place to eat there or takeaway. I also just love going to supermarkets in new countries. Compared to my home, Australia, I find French supermarkets cheap, especially for alcohol and basic snacks, and they have a real emphasis on bio/organic stuff too.
How to get around Paris
Paris is extremely walkable, especially if you have enough time to spread out your itinerary and cover all the sites in a certain area each day. The train is super easy and affordable (and tickets also cover the bus system) or you can rent public bikes and scooters if you’re adventurous.
What worked best for us was getting a train in the morning, then walking around that area to do and see what we wanted, then grabbing an Uber back to our AirBnB at the end of day and eating dinner somewhere nearby since our feet were pretty tired by then!
Within Paris itself you will see metro and RER train lines. The map is simple - lines are colour-coded and show the final destination at each end. Use the line colour and final stop to find your way to the correct platform. Some stations just have 1 line but some have multiple, can be under or above ground and require a bit of walking. You can buy a single trip ticket for around 2 euro or there are daily and weekly passes too - you can decide what’s right for you here. Almost all stations have machines and a ticket desk. Note that public transport is free for kids under 4 and half price for kids 4 to 11. Reduced mobility? Buses may offer better coverage but read more here.
Money in Paris
France uses the euro. There’s lots of ATMs and most of your standard debit and credit cards should work in most places - most of the time I could tap using my phone. Also check what your card fees and policies are before you go (I’m Australian and use ING as they offer some perks on this).
On the whole you don’t need cash per se, but you might want a little for souvenirs, snacks or emergencies. Cash can also help with budgeting e.g. “I only have 50 euros cash to spend on souvenirs”. Like any big city, I would not recommend carrying around huge amounts.
Safety in Paris
Speaking of safety, I’ve seen a lot of travel influencers talk about how unsafe Paris is. I think this is a little unfair. Yes, there is crime and scams but I would also say this is true of most larger cities in Europe and elsewhere too…
I don’t want people to be paranoid during their dream trip to Paris but you should also exercise some common sense - be aware of your surroundings (especially after dark), trust your gut, and keep a tight grip on your belongings in crowded areas. I have a post on Paris common tourist scams here too.
How to be respectful in Paris
I’ve seen a lot of nonsense online that scares travellers about Paris - that the people are super rude, that there are lots of rules you must follow and ways you have to act. On the whole, most Parisians are content just going about their daily lives but will usually help you if asked.
I am working on a cultural etiquette guide if you really want to do your utmost to fit in and learn about some French and Parisian nuances, but on the whole, again - just exercise common sense. Don’t talk super loud, consider others, and smile. Yes, a “bonjour” or “merci” will go a long way - especially in shops. No, not all Parisians speak English, but most know enough or can mime haha! Yes, wearing a beret will scream “tourist” but you do you. No, you don’t need to tip unless the service was abnormally good (service is included - it’s even written on the bill usually).
Phew, that was a lot right? Or do you still want more? Check out some other posts here on Paris, my favourite city!
